But Not Forgotten

Ian Samwell (Ian Ralph Samwell)

In 1958, Ian Samwell heard Harry Webb performing at the 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho. This led to him joining Webb’s group as a guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the group was renamed Cliff Richard and The Drifters who later became Cliff Richard and The Shadows. They signed a recording contract with EMI’s Columbia Records and Samwell wrote “Move It”, which was inspired by Chuck Berry. The song was initially intended as the B-side of their debut single “Schoolboy Crush”, but Jack Good ensured that it became the A-side of their release. The song reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and is generally accepted as the first rock and roll song to be written in the United Kingdom. Ian Samwell played rhythm guitar on “Move It”, but was edged out of the band when Hank Marvin and Jet Harris joined. He was then offered a songwriting contract and wrote Richard’s second hit single, “High Class Baby”, and several other early songs for Richard, such as “Dynamite”. In 1959, he wrote “Say You Love Me Too”, which was recorded by The Isley Brothers and thus became the first song by a British songwriter to be recorded by an American R&B act.

In the summer of 1961, Ian Samwell hosted some lunchtime record dance sessions at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, using his own collection of R&B and country rock records. Then in August, he was appointed first resident DJ on Sunday and Tuesday sessions, playing in front of a fast-growing audience of a couple of thousand, mainly made up of fans of the new, exploding Mod Scene. Later, music historian Dave Godin stated that: “In some ways, the Lyceum was the first place that could merit the name discothèque”. He was also a Disc Jockey at The Orchid Ballroom Purley, after the Lyceum. He went on to work with other artists, as a staff producer at Warner Bros. Records in London. Samwell discovered the band America and produced their first album, America in 1972. Samwell is also credited with persuading their guitarist Dewey Bunnell to change the name of “Desert Song” to “A Horse with No Name”, which became an international chart success. In 1974, Samwell produced the first of three successful albums with Hummingbird whose line-up included Bobby Tench and other former members of The second Jeff Beck Group. Ian Samwell underwent a heart transplant in the 1990s and died in Sacramento, California on 13 March 2003, aged sixty six. Shortly before his death, he had been active in the Sacramento, California music scene, working closely with several local acts. His sons, Ralph Lewis Samwell and Tyson Haynes, both live in London.

Born

January, 19, 1937

United Kingdom

Lambeth, South London

Died

March, 13, 2003

USA

Sacramento, California

Cause of Death

heart ailment

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